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moi·e·ty

(moiĭ-tē)

n. pl. moi·e·ties

1. A half.

2. A part, portion, or share.

3. Anthropology Either of two kinship groups based on unilateral descent that together make up a tribe or society.

4. Chemistry A well-defined part of a larger molecule.

[Middle English moite, from Old French meitiet, moitie, from Late Latin medietās, from Latin, middle, from medius, middle; see medhyo- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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